Brother of Japanese Illustrator Who Died at Comiket Posts Heartwarming Thank You

Kuro Hekiten, a Japanese doujinshi illustrator and writer, passed away shortly after being rushed to the hospital when he collapsed at Comiket late last December.

The artist attended the multi-day event in hopes to sell his stuff just like other artists who set up desks and booths at Tokyo Big Sight’s west hall. Before the doors were open, Hekiten snapped a photo of the desks and tables laid out in an empty hall, describing the picture as “the calm before the storm,” according to SoraNews24.

However, at some point during the event, which was held between December 29 and 31, the 44-year-old illustrator reportedly collapsed on the show floor. It was unclear when he had collapsed, but the report has pointed out that the artist was still tweeting pictures from the show floor and his booth on the morning of December 30.

The full story of what happened – and the breaking of the tragic news – was not revealed to the public until January 7 when Hekiten’s younger brother updated his official blog and said that his older brother died in hospital on January 1.

“By the time I noticed my brother had collapsed, the Comiket staff and other attendees were already administering CPR to him, someone had called the paramedics, and countless other people were doing what they could to help,” the illustrator’s brother wrote as he recalls what happened when he was with him at Comiket.

Two people volunteered to help Hekiten when he collapsed on the show floor, said the younger brother in the blog. One person brought out a defibrillator while an attendee who happens to be a nurse offered assistance to help the illustrator.

“So many people, who’d never met my brother and didn’t even know his name, tried to save him, acting so quickly and earnestly. The staff and other attendees even formed a barricade to keep the walkways clear so that the paramedics could get to him, and transport him to the ambulance, as quickly as possible,” he continued in the blog.

He later thanked those who helped prolong his brother’s life by providing medical assistance at the event area.

“In the end, my brother couldn’t be saved, but because of your efforts, his family was able to be with him in his last moments. Thank you all so, so much,” he said, adding, “He was not lonely in his final moments, and I would like to express my family’s deep gratitude.”

Hekiten’s younger brother offered heartfelt advice to everyone working in the art and manga field, advising them to take care of their own well-being.

“My brother had not previously suffered from any major illnesses, but you couldn’t even generously say that he led a healthy lifestyle. He’d stay up all night for days on end trying to meet deadlines, then have to sleep through the day. He had poor nutrition and smoked a lot, and I think these things were major factors in his passing away at just 44 years old.

I think that there are many people who work in the art and manga fields who live similar lives, and I humbly ask that you take this as an opportunity to reexamine your lifestyle, for the sake of yourselves and those you love.”